Switch



April 19, 192'17.v 1,625,456

P. K. CRAMBLET SWITCH Filed Aux. 11. 1924 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l s F /JO v1Q g g il 0 x 5 l5 y E' if-J5 j I /J wm y April 19,1927. v P. K.cRAMBLET swIvTcH Filed Aug. 11. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 70 C Mm @im Tijl`Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL K. CRAMBLET, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN.

swrrcn'.

Application led August 11, 1924. lSerial No. 731,283.

. of the compression of the air in the closet such complete closurerequires a positive movement of the/door into vits closed position.

One object of my invention is to produce a combination lighting Fixtureand switch device which is capable of being manufactured and sold as aunit and which1 is lalso capable of easy installation at a relativelysmall expense.

A further object of my invention is to produce a switch device for thefixture, which is operable by the movement of the door at or near itsclosed position so as to render possible its operation by merelyimparting to the door a swinging movement such that it is substantiallythough not 'completely closed. L

A'further object is to provide a combination lighting xture of thecharacter indicated which is of a thoroughly practical character capableof being economically manufactured and havin a movable switch operatingmember permltting kof considerable latitude in the installation of thefixture as well as in the -operation thereof by the door. e p

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lighting fixture,as an article of manufacture, including therein a receptacle for thelight bulb, a switch and a source .of electricity, thus providing a uni`tary self contained device adapted for a wide range of application.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, two exemplary embodimentsthereof are shown in the accompanying drawings herein described somewhatin detail. However, the drawings and the description are not to beconstrued vas limiting the invention to the specific embodimentsdisclosed, other constructions and modifications being contemplated, asset forth in the appended claims.

1n the drawings, Figure l is a longitudi- Y nal section of a door anddoor frame taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, showing thedevicesuitably mounted.

Fig. 2 is a section ofthe door frame along the top of the ldoor takenalong the line 2- 2 of F ig.:1.

Fig 3 is a view of the interior of the device showing the working parts.

Fig. 4 is a view of the end of the box along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of theV switch along theY line 5--5 ofFig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a view'of another embodimentof the invention showingy abattery contained within the device. A

Fig. 7 is a vview of the switch of Fig..6 along the line 7-'-7 thereof.

Fig. 8 is a view of the partition between the two compartments takenalong the line s-s of Fig. e!

Referring particularly to the drawings, 10.1n`d1cates the top memberof adoor frame l.

of which 11 and 12 are the'side members. The door `13 is hinged to theframe member llas shown at 14, the. door'closing tightly against thedoor-stop 15 whichi is set into the frame.

The fixture comprises, generally, a box or casing 16 which serves as asupport for an electric 1am-p or light bulb 17. Where the fixture isintended for closets requiring ^only a low candle power lamp, the sizeof t-he switch and hence also of the casing may be materially reduced byproviding a candelabrum lamp 17 and socket 18 in place ofthe largestandard sockets.

The casing 16` is adapted to be mounted on the frame 'by screws passingthrough holes 19 in the bottom of the casing. The open side of thecasing is provided with a cover 20 fastened by means of screws toreceiving lugs 2l secured inside the casmg.

One end wall ofI the casing has a shaft 22 therein bearing in a bushing23 which is made fast in the wall. Inside the casing, clamping fingers24 and 25 are secured to said shaft 22 and carry a mercury switch 26therebetween having the contacts 27 and 28- thereof rconnected toflexible coiled wires the bar 33, and the wire 29 is connected to thebar 31. Wires 37 and 38 lead respectively from plates 31 and`32 to thelamp 17. The turning of the shaft 22 thus operates the mercury switch 26to operate the light.

The shaft 22, externally of the casing, is radially bored to receive aflexibly resilient wire 39, which is held in the shaft by a screw 40inserted at the end thereof. Inside the casing a radial arm, such as ascrew 41, is carried by the shaft 22 to limit the motion of the shaft. Astop 42 is provided in the casing for the purpose of limiting the motionof the radial arm and hence the shaft 22. The stop 42 is provided bybending the end of a metal strip 43 located inside the casing andsecured to the end wall. The end of the screw 41 is conveniently bentand is notched at 44 to receive a spring 45 which is otherwise held inthe corner of the casing at 46.

In practice, the casing is mounted on the door frame by inserting screwsthrough the holes 19, the cover 2() being removed for this purpose'. The[casing may be mounted at any desired distance from the pivotal line ofthe hinged door in order to vary the degree of sensltivity of the switchto the.

closing of the door. It\will' be observed that the casing 16 is hereinshown as mounted not adjacent to the door, but at aslight` 'distanceaway therefrom. The end of the resilient arm 39 contacting the door inits closedposition is shown by Fig. 1, the arm being shown. considerablyflexed in the 'figure. The flexibility of the 'arm permits that the doorbe o ened somewhat without operating. the switch. When the device isaplied to clothes closets or other closed chamers, this lfeature is ofparticular importance since a mere swinging of the door toward itsclosed position fails to eifect a complete closure thereof, owing to thecompression of the air in` the closet, the door, under' such conditions,being nearly but not quite closed. The present device is so arrangedthat the light will be shut olf when the door is substantially shut, asin the case of the failure to close as above described. In Fig. 1, 13indicates the position ofL the door in broken lines at the point atwhich theswitch operates to open the circuit. A-considerable latitude inhaving the rdoor slightly opened without closing the switch is thuspermitted, as represented by the positions 13 and 13. It is clear thatthe further the device is placed from the hinges 14, the less will bethis latitude for an open door. For a greater angle of opening thedevice will be placed nearer the hinged side of the door.

Another embodiment of my invention is described to show a unitary deviceembodying a battery as the source of power, thus makin this embodiment acomplete outfit adaptale for use in places where an external source ofpower is not available. Herein I show a larger casing having twocompartments therein formed by the partition 51. Thispartition is aninsulating plate of bre or the like set in the casing against inturnedlugs 52 struck from the casing. Suitable means are provided thereon forcontact with the battery. A metal ring 53 and a center contact 54 makeconnection to a battery 55 .through its binding posts 56 and 57. Thecasing is provided with a chamber suflicientlydarge to hold any ordinarystandard battery, and is further provided with a spring 58 pressinagainst the end 59 of the casing and the en of the battery 55 to furnishthe requisite pressure for electrical contact therewith. The end 59 ofthe casing is removable and iS secured by, screws 60 to the casing.Suitable brackets 61 are provided in this instance for'mounting thecasing.

The operating shaft 62 in the end of the casing is substantially likethe shaft 22 hereinabove described. However, in place of lthe mercuryswitch in the previous embodiment, the low potential of the battery willpermit using an open switch as indicated by the flat spring contacts 63and 64. The end of the shaft 62 has a semi-cylindrical section removedtherefrom leaving the diametral face 65. The contact 64 is arranged tolie alongside the face 65 when thev two contacts 63 and 64 areseparated, and by turning the shaft, the contact 64 is" moved intoposition to close the circuit of the switch. Other connections tocomplete the circuit are shown bly binding posts 66 .and 67 whichrespective y hold contacts 63 and 64 in mounted position insulated fromthe casing by fibre members 68. Binding posts 69 and 70 on the partitionplate 51 lead to the battery 55. Wires 71, 72 and 73 are then arrangedleading respectively from post to post 67, from and from post 66 to thelight.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a casing adapted to be secured to a closet doorframe, a rock shaft journaled in said casing and having one endprojecting from the casing, a mercury switch on said shaft forcontrolling the flow of current to a lamp, and means adapted to becontrolled by the door for actuating said switch comprising an arm ofsubstantial length on the outer end of said shaft and spring meanstending to hold said shaft in a position such as to cause the mercuryswitch to permit the flow of current and also acting to hold said armprojecting bepost 69 to the light,

yond the plane of the forward side of the i rearwardly of the doorv inits closed position, a rock shaft journalled in said casingsubstantially parallel to the plane of the door opening and having oneend projecting from the casing, an electric switch in said casing andoperatively associated with said shaft, an arm of substantial length onthe outer end of said shaft adapted to extend forwardly of the casingand through the door frame, an electric lamp receptacle controlled bythe switch and mounted on said casing, and spring lmeans tending to holdsaid switch closed and to. hold said arm in its forwardlyextendingposition in which the arm is adapted to be engaged by the doorto' open the switch when the door is swung into partially closedposition.

3.In combination, a switch adapted to be secured to a closet door frameinwardly of the door for controlling the flow of current to a lamp,means adapted to be controlled by `the door for actuating' said switch,said means comprising an arm of substantial length, and spring meanstending to hold said arm in switch closing position in which positionsaid .'arm extends forwardly with its free end projecting beyond theouter face of the door frame for engagement and actuation toswitch-opening position by the door as the latter approaches its closedposition.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aliixed my signature.

PAUL K. CRAMBLET.

